Green Wave softball team claims district title

Shane Roper/For The Journal Scene --
Coaches and teammates congratulate Summerville third baseman Hannah Horton after she turned a double play to end Tuesday's playoff game with Lugoff-Elgin.
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The runs didn't come easy for the Green Wave softball team during the early rounds of the Class AAAA playoffs but Summerville's defense was stout.Summerville (23-7) went 4-1 in its district to clinch the District 8 championship and advance to the Lower State round of the playoffs. The Wave will face the District 7 champion Wando Saturday in Mt. Pleasant.“We have some very good teams in our district bracket so I'm happy to stay alive for another day,” Summerville coach Heather Tucker said. “The defensive play has been huge for us and kept us in some games. We've had a lot of kids make some big defensive plays so now we just need to figure out some ways to score runs however we can – hit, slap, bunt, whatever.”Summerville pitcher Taylor Wuerfel held Conway to only two hits as the Wave opened the playoffs with a 10-0 shutout.Wuerfel continued to have success in the circle during Summerville's next two playoff games as the Wave lost 3-1 to Dutch Fork but rebounded to earn a 2-1 win over Lugoff-Elgin. In those two contests Summerville benefitted from some athletic stops from players such as shortstop Sarah Windham, third baseman Hannah Horton and catcher Taylor Belfiore. During the 16-inning stretch the Wave only committed five errors.Against Lugoff-Elgin Tuesday, Summerville scored two runs off three hits in the bottom of the first inning and then held off the Demons to advance to the District 8 championship series.Windham and Wuerfel reached base with singles and then moved over on a pitch that got past the Demon catcher. Belfiore then hit a deep single to drive them both in for a 2-0 Summerville lead.That score held until the top of the seventh inning.Lugoff-Elgin's Dallas Gurrereo reached on a single and moved to second on a bad throw during a pickoff attempt to first. Taylor Rawl then doubled to drive her in.The Demons put another runner on base when Taylor Mullins was hit with a pitch. Kelsey Griham came to the plate and hit a sharp line drive, but Horton made the catch and threw to second to double up Rawl and end the game.Lugoff-Elgin left eight batters stranded during the game, including three when the Demons loaded the bases in the sixth. Summerville left five runners stranded throughout the game.Wuerfel threw six-plus innings and surrendered seven hits and no walks. Summer Jenkins picked up the save for Summerville.Erin Blizzard suffered the loss for Lugoff-Elgin after pitching six innings. She struck out five Wave batters while surrendering five hits and only two walks.Windham led the Summerville batters, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a double. Blizzard led the Demon batters, going 2 for 3 at the plate, and Rawl finished 2 for 4.On Wednesday Summerville clinched the District 8 championship with a pair of wins at Dutch Fork, beating the Silver Foxes 1-0 in the first game and 4-3 in the second.The sole run in the first game came in the top of the sixth. Wuerfel got on base with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Summer Jenkins. Belfiore then drove the run in with a double to left centerfield. Wuerfel had 9 strikeouts in the game.The Wave also drew first blood in the second game, scoring a run in the first inning. Windham walked and moved to second on a groundout. Jenkins then hit a double to push the run across.Dutch Fork answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.In the third, Hailey Elkins hit a triple to right center and scored on a bad throw in by the outfield to take the score to 3-1.Summerville responded in the fourth, scoring two runs to tie the game. Knight drove in Halajcsik, moved over on a single by Horton and scored on a hit by Brittany Olean.The decisive run came in the top of the seventh. Taylor Wuerfel had a base hit and Belfiore drove her in. Wuerfel (17-4) started in the circle, but was relieved by Jenkins. She then was brought back in to close the game out.

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